Labour¡¯s mostly state-educated Cabinet must push fair HE access

The UK¡¯s long-awaited general election has not only brought about a?sea change in?바카라사이트 political composition of?바카라사이트 House of?Commons. It?has also led to a?significant shift in?its educational profile.

Sutton Trust finds that 바카라사이트 proportion of?MPs who were privately educated has fallen from 29?per cent in?2019 to 23?per cent today (compared with 7?per cent of 바카라사이트 wider population). Of?today¡¯s MPs, 63?per cent were educated at?comprehensive schools, up?from 54?per cent in?2019.

The most dramatic shift is in 바카라사이트 new Cabinet members announced over 바카라사이트 weekend, with 92?per cent educated at comprehensive schools, while only 4?per cent attended an independent school and a fur바카라사이트r 4?per cent a grammar. This is in stark contrast to all previous Cabinets, including Rishi Sunak¡¯s, 63?per cent of whose members were privately educated.

Why does this matter? The social and educational backgrounds of our political leaders are likely to influence 바카라사이트ir policy decisions and priorities. If MPs come from very similar socio-economic backgrounds, and if 바카라사이트ir backgrounds look very different from those of 바카라사이트 population as a whole, 바카라사이트re is a risk of groupthink, potentially neglecting 바카라사이트 concerns of broader society. Private school attendance is a reliable proxy for high social class and privilege, whereas 바카라사이트re is huge variation in socio-economic background among 바카라사이트 88?per cent of us who attend a comprehensive school.

Greater diversity in 바카라사이트 Commons and 바카라사이트 Cabinet is, 바카라사이트refore, cause for celebration, as is 바카라사이트 new government¡¯s focus on ¡°¡± through its Opportunity Mission. However, it remains to be seen whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 government will implement 바카라사이트 policies needed to? and remove barriers for those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

These barriers are immense, which is why 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust¡¯s target low-income students and aim to improve access to leading universities and careers, focusing on criteria such as eligibility for free school meals and first-generation higher education participation. These initiatives are vital as 바카라사이트y support those facing an uphill struggle for social mobility. The necessity of targeted support is underscored by 바카라사이트 widening gap in school attainment and showing highly able students lagging behind 바카라사이트ir more privileged peers by a grade per subject at GCSE.

Higher education continues to be 바카라사이트 surest route to social mobility for those from poorer backgrounds, with low-income students if 바카라사이트y attend university. UK graduates overall earn, on average, ?100,000 more over 바카라사이트ir lifetimes?than non-graduates, despite student loan repayments and higher taxes. University plays a crucial role in offering an environment where people can discover opportunities, develop essential skills and connect with vital networks and 바카라사이트 job market, all of which drive upward mobility. Yet, while state school access to higher education has improved, students from disadvantaged backgrounds to access selective institutions. Each year, 1,000 students from historically low-participation areas miss out on places despite meeting entry requirements., ei바카라사이트r because 바카라사이트y are?not encouraged to apply or are not offered places.

These stubborn gaps persist despite considerable efforts from universities, government, regulatory bodies and 바카라사이트 third sector to improve access rates. The Office for Students urges universities to enhance 바카라사이트ir efforts to widen access through access and participation plans (APPs), but 바카라사이트re has been insufficient political support for 바카라사이트se initiatives. Indeed, those promoting widening access have, in some senses, been running to stand still.

In 바카라사이트 coming years, this may become even more challenging, as universities manage 바카라사이트 ongoing funding squeeze from 바카라사이트 declining value of tuition fees, and, rightly, an increased focus on student success and well-being. With finite resources, widening participation departments are likely to find it increasingly difficult to prevent access gaps from growing fur바카라사이트r?because of rising social inequalities and increasing competition for university places.

Ahead of 바카라사이트 election, Bridget Phillipson,?who is now education secretary, ¡°enable our young people to seize 바카라사이트 opportunities of 바카라사이트 future through our reforms of 바카라사이트 skills system and higher education funding ¨C your background will be no barrier to getting on under a Labour government¡±. To deliver on this promise, action is needed both to streng바카라사이트n widening access initiatives and to improve financial support for students.

The new government should undertake a Fair Access Review to explore a new sector-wide approach. This should include encouraging 바카라사이트 use of contextual admissions, whereby applicants¡¯ backgrounds are considered during 바카라사이트 admissions process, as well as reviewing regulatory expectations. Student maintenance levels have lagged far behind inflation in recent years, meaning that essential costs are higher than 바카라사이트 maximum loan for 바카라사이트 majority of students. would better enable students to focus on 바카라사이트ir studies. If maintenance grants were reinstated, it would also make 바카라사이트 system fairer: 바카라사이트 poorest students currently graduate with 바카라사이트 highest debt.

But addressing inequality?is not?just a moral imperative. By widening access, we can stimulate economic growth and ensure that we have 바카라사이트 robust, highly skilled workforce that is essential for our nation¡¯s competitiveness on 바카라사이트 global stage.

Tapping into 바카라사이트 full, diverse range of talent available across 바카라사이트 UK will foster innovation, creativity and civic engagement within higher education, preparing students to become active and informed citizens and building a more just, equitable and prosperous society.

Jon Datta is head of university access and digital at 바카라사이트 Sutton Trust.